The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stern caution to parents and guardians regarding the enrollment of minors in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This warning comes in the wake of a legal dispute initiated by Mrs Ifeanyi Eke against JAMB, alleging inappropriate text messages were sent to her 15-year-old daughter during the registration process.
In response to the lawsuit filed by Mrs. Eke, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, emphasized the Board’s readiness to address the concerns raised. Oloyede clarified that the sender of the disputed messages was not affiliated with JAMB and assured that appropriate actions had been taken, including reporting the incident to security agencies.
Addressing the issue, Oloyede underscored the necessity for candidates to meet the minimum age requirement for tertiary education. He expressed bewilderment at how a 15-year-old could be prepared for university education, emphasizing the legal framework requiring candidates to complete six years each in primary and secondary education before attaining the age of 18.
Highlighting the responsibility of examination centres, Oloyede emphasized the need for stringent measures to prevent unauthorized access to candidate information. He warned that any centre allowing parents or unauthorized individuals near examination premises would face sanctions, including deletion from the accreditation list.
Furthermore, JAMB reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the examination process, urging parents to prioritize their children’s readiness and maturity before registering for UTME. Oloyede stressed that parental emotions should not jeopardize the academic prospects of their children and reiterated JAMB’s resolve to uphold discipline and accountability within the registration process.